Signaling device.



11. 'H. MANSON.

SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1 910.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

lmlenfor finq H. Manson Bfl@ (Q VIZ fnesses 1 @51 His Am BAY H. MANSON, 0F

EIiYRIA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF

ELYRIA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 25, I910. Serial No. 594,144.

Patented Apr. 1, 191 3.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I RAY H. MANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elyria, the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of my 1nvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to signaling devices and more particularly to such as are used uponvehicles, such as automobiles, motor boats, etc., though I may apply this for the production of signals wherever such a device is desired.

The object of my invention is to produce a signaling device which is capable of producing sounds of, diiferent characters. Where the vehicle is traveling at a low rate of speed, a signal of a soft tone may be used to give the necessary warning of the approach of the vehicle; in fact, a loud signal is undesirable, particularly upon busy thoroughfares. On the other hand, on country roads or wherever the vehicle is approaching rapidly, it is desirable togwe a signal-of a more sharp and penetrating nature, in order to give a .more distant warn- Ihe invention disclosed and claimed in this application is a modification of that disclosed and claimed'in United States Letters Patent #1,016,699' granted to me Feb. 6, 1912 as assignor. tov The Dean Electric Company. In thedevice disclosed in this .inv'ention, it is my object to modify the signal after it hasibeen produced. I contemplate making such {variations in the tone as will result in theproduction of two distinct signals'one1 for service purposes in urban districts and upon'crowded thoroughfares, and'the other suitable -f0remergency work for notifyingv a distant driver or the driver of a noisy vehicle. This chan e may be accomplished by varyingthequa ity of loudness or the frequency of the sound waves. In the form shown I-have provided means for changing the character of the resonator, though I do not wish to belimited i t nant P rt of th vehicle e OPP/ting the to this particular form.

I further provide means which may be attached to the steering gear or other consound producing device and for changing the character of the resonator.

Other objects of my invention and the apparatus which constitutes the particular form shown will be better understood from the detailed description thereof whenthe same is taken in connection with the drawings. v

I have shown my invention in connection with particular forms of mechanism, though I do not wish to be limited thereto.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 .is a side elevation, partly in section of a modified form of resonator.

Referring now to the drawings and to Fig. 1; at 1 is shown a frame plate to which a. vibratile member, here shown as a diaphragm 2 is attached by screws or other.

fastening means 3. An anvi] 4, here shown as a stem is associated with the member 2 and is adapted to transmit motion thereto. At 5 is shown a. hammer adapted to strike the anvil when vibrated. This hammer is connected by a flexible spring 6 to a frame piece 7. At 8 is shown in electromagnet connected in a circuit with the battery B by the conductors 9, 10, 11 and 12. There is aswitch S in this circuit which consists of a contact 13 mounted upon the hammer 5, and an adjustable contact 14 mounted upon a frame piece 15. When the circuit through the magnet 8 is closed, the hammer 5, which.

a solenoid, which is one form of electromagnet. This is adapted to be connected in circuit with the battery B, through the conductors 17, 18 and 19. At'M I show a circuit controller here shown consisting of three sprin s, 20, 21 and 22, the spring 20 bearing a utton 23 and connected to a source B by a conductor 24;. The spring 21 is connected with the conductor 12. v The spring 22 is connected directly to the conductor 19. The frame piece 1 is open atlthe center "and a resonator 25 is connected over this opening. In the'form shown, the resonator is shown in the shape of a horn proximating a tube. Sound waves are adapted to pass through this resonator. At 26 I show a second tube, here-shown as a loop of the resonator, which is looped from an orifice 27 to a second orifice 28 in the walls of the resonator. In the mouth of the orifice 27 I show a butterfly valve 29, pivoted in the resonator at 30. This valve is connected by a stem 31 to the core 32 of the solenoid P. Under normal conditions, the" valve is in a position to divert the sound waves into the branch so that they pass therethrough and back into the main part of the resonator at 28. The character of thevolume of air which is set in vibration when the sound waves pass through this route is such, that a soft tone will be produced by the horn. When the butterfly valve is turned to a central position permitting the sound waves to pass directly through the resonator,

- the volume of air set in vibration is of such a character that a harsher and more penetrating tone is produced by the horn.

The switch M may be mounted upon the steering wheel or upon any convenient part of the machine, so that the driver may operate it without detracting his attention from other duties. The circuit controller is adapted to be operated to assume three positions First, the normal position, which is that shown in the drawing and at which the signal device is inactive. When the button 23 is pushed down until the spring 20 engages the spring 21,- thefollowing circuit will be closed: 20, 24, B, 11, 8, 9, 14, 13, 6, 7 10, 12, 21. This will operate the magnet 8 and the armature 5 will be vibrated with a rheotome efi'ect, causing the diaphragm to produce a signalwhich will be transmitted through the branch 26, and which, as stated,

will be a signal of a soft tone. When the button 23 is shoved to its way down position, causing the spring 21 to engage the spring 22, the following circuit will also be closed, 20, -2lB.-lll7-P 181922-2l- 20. This solenoid'will attract its core 32,

. and swing the valve 29 to the mid-position so that the sound waves will now ass directly through the resonator, causing the horn to produce a harsh signal.

While I have employed a solenoid to opcrate the valve, any form of electromagnet thrown in such a position as to direct the sound waves into the branch through the orifice 127 and when they emerge from the branch into the main part of the resonator, the Valve may be moved to the dotted line position to permit the sound wavesto pass directlythrough the resonator.

While I have shown these particular forms for the purpose of clearly illustrating my invention, I do not wish to be limited thererect the sound waves produced by said device, electrically controlled means to direct thesound waves through one of said tubes and to permit the sound waves to pass through the other of said tubes, said tubes adapted to modify the character of the sound transmitted therethrough, whereby a sound of different character will result when the waves pass through one of said tubes from that resulting when transmitted through the other and common means for controlling said sound producing device and said electrically controlled means.

2. In an automobile horn, the combination of an electrically operated sound producing device, a tube to direct the sound produced by said device, a second tube of difi'erent volume from the first, adapted to alter the character of the sound produced by said device, whereby the character of the sound resulting from the transmission of the sound waves from said device through one of said tubes will differ from the character of the sound transmitted through the other tube, and electrically controlled means to direct the sound into one of said tubes and to permit the sound waves to pass through the other and common means to controlsaid sound producing device and said electrically controlled means.

3. In an automobilehorn, the combination of a sound producing device, means to cause said device to sound a signal, means to modify the character of the sound which has been produced by said device and means common to said first and second named means controlling said first and second named means.

4. In an automobile horn, the combination of a sound producing device, a resonator therefor, remotely controlled means to change the character of said resonator, and means controlling the operation of said sound producing device and said remotely controlled means,

changing the character of the resonator, electrical means for operating said sound producing device, and common means control.- ling said electrical meansand said remotely controlled means.

7. In an automobile horn, the combination of asound producing device adapted to produce a soundof a certain tone, a resonator therefor, means to change the character of the resonator, electrical means for operating said last named means, and a common device for controlling said sound producing and said electrical means.

8. In an automobile horn, the combination of a sound producing device adapted to produce a sound of a certain tone, a resonator therefor, means associated with said resosaid diaphragm,

- two.

nat'or to change the character of the tone produced by said horn, an electric circuit, a

source of current for supplying current thereto, electrical means in saidcircuit forcontrolling said sound producing device and said first named means and a circuit controller controlling the circuit through said electrical means and-adapted to govern the operation of said sound producing device and said first named means.

9. In an automobile horn, the combination of a vibratile diaphragm, means to operate a resonator, electrically controlled means for changing the character of said resonator, and a device common to said operating means and said electrically controlled means controlling each.

10. In an automobile horn, the combination with a sonorous diaphragm, a resonator, means to change the character of said resonator, an e'lectromagnet controlling said means, and controlling means for said diaphragm and said electro-magnet common to the two. y

11. In a signalin device, the combination of an electrical y operated sound producing device, a resonator through which the sound may pass, a loop of said resonator, means to direct the sound through said loop and controlling means for said sound producing device and said means common to the 12. In a signaling device, the combination of an electrically operated sound producing device, a resonator through which the sound may be directed, a loop of said resonator, a valve for directing the sound through said loop and controlling means for sa1d sound producing device and said valve common to the two. 13. In a signaling device of the class described, the combination of a sound producing device, a resonator through which the sound may be directed, a loop of said resonator, a valve normally directing the sound waves through said loop an electromagnet controlling said valve, a source of current, a circuit controller, circuit connections for said magnet, source and controller and means to operate said sound producing device, said magnet adapted to operate said valve to permit the sound to pass directly through said resonator and said circuit controller governing said means and said magnet.

14. In a signaling device of the class described, the combination of a sound pro-duo ing device, a resonator, of means to change the character of said resonator, electrically operated means controlling said device and said first named means, a source of current to supply energy to said electrically operated means, a three posit-ion circuit controller associated with said source and said electrically operated; means, said sound producing device being operated when said circuit controller is in either of two of saidpositions to produce a sound of a certain tone and said'first named means being operated when said circuit controller is in one of said two positions whereby the tone of the sound so produced is changed.

15. In a signaling device of the class described, the combination of a sound producing device, a tube directing the sound produced by said device, a second tube adapted to direct 'the sound produced by said device, means normally diverting the sound waves into the second tube and adapted to be operated to permit the sound to pass through the first tube, an electro-magnet for operating said sound producing device, a second magnet for operating said means, a source of current, circuit connections in which said magnets and said source are connected, a circuit controller connected in said circuit, said circuit controller adapted to be operated to assume each of a plurality of posit-ions and when in one position to so condition the circuit connections that the sound producing device is operated and when operated to assume a second position to so condition the circuit connections that the said means is operatedand the sound. waves produced by said device permitted to pass through the first tube.

16. In a signaling device of the class described, the combination ofa sound producall tromagnet controlling said means and adapted to operate the same so as to permit the sound waves to pass dlrectly through the resonator, a second electromagnet controlling said sound producing device, a source of current, circuit connections for said source and said magnets connecting the same in a circuit and a circuit controller in said circuit adapted to be-operated to assume each of a plurality of positions, said circuit controller when operated to assume one of said positions conditioning said circuit to operate said second magnet, whereby said sound producing device is actuated and when operated to assume another position conditioning said circuit to operate both said magnets, whereby said means is operated to permit the sound waves to pass directly through the resonator.

17. In an automobile horn, the combination a sonorous member, means to cause said member to Sound a signal, means to alter the signal which has been produced by said member, and means common to said first and second named means controllin said first and secend named means.

18. In an automobile born, the combination of a sonorous member adapted when operated to produce a signal, remot ly con- 80 trolled means for operating said member,

means for changing the character of the signal produbed by said member, said means operating upon the signal to change it. after it has been produced and means common to said first and second named means controlling sa'id first and second named means.

19. In an automobile horn, the'combination of a sonorous member, adapted when operated to produce a signal, electrically 40 controlled means for operating said member, means for changingthe character of the signal after it has been produced by said member, and means common to said electrically controlled means and said last named means controlling said electrically cont-rolled means and said last named means.

20. In an automobile horn, the combination of a sonorous member, electromagnet means for operating said member to cause the same to sound a signal, a source of current, and a circuit for supplying current to said electromagnet means, a device for changing the character of the signal produced by said member, second electromagnet means controlling said device, and common means controlling said first and said second electromagnet means.

21. In an automobile horn, the combination with a sonorous member adapted when operated to sound a.signal, an electromagnet for operating said member, a source of current and a circuit for supplying current to said magnet, means including a resonator for changing the character of the sound produced by said member, an electromagnet controlling said means, and a single circuit controller controlling said magnets.

22. In an automobile horn, the combination of a vibratile diaphragm, an electromagnet to operate said diaphragm to cause the same to sound a signal of a certain tone, asource of current, conductors connecting said source and magnet, a resonator having two channels for the passage of sound waves from said diaphragm, each passage having different modifying effect on said sound, a valve controlling the flow of sound Waves to said passages and electrically cont-rolled means controlling said valve.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa- 80" ture in the presence of two witnesses.

- RAY H. MANSON.

lV'itnesses 

